Debra J. Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
July 18, 1994
(Phone: 202/358-1639)
RELEASE: 94-119
NASA AND UKRAINE SPACE AGENCY AGREE ON AREAS OF SPACE COOPERATION
NASA and the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) agreed
July 13 to explore possible cooperation in remote sensing and
Earth sciences, telemedicine, space biology, space welding,
advanced concepts and technology, and student and scientist
exchanges.
"These proposed activities are a significant first step in
establishing U.S. and Ukrainian cooperation in space," said
Robert W. Clarke, NASA Associate Administrator for Policy
Coordination and International Relations. The activities follow
discussions held between NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Valeriy Shmarov earlier this
year.
Details of discussions that were held at NASA Headquarters,
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and the John
F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida on July 6-15, 1994, included
the following:
o Remote Sensing and Earth Sciences:
Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-C) imagery of Ukraine: NASA has
included a list of sites provided by NSAU as targets of
opportunity for the August 1994 SIR-C Shuttle mission. NSAU
will conduct airborne radar surveys of these sites during
the mission.
Chernobyl Studies: Discussions were held on a possible
joint project to study the Chernobyl region using U.S.
Landsat imagery and various Ukrainian data from ground
measurements and from remote sensing platforms.
o Telemedicine:
Cooperation in this area may include computer connectivity,
voice/fax, and videoconferencing capabilities for furthering
medical science and medical education, as well as the
clinical telemedicine capabilities required for patient
examinations and evaluations in Ukraine and the United
States.
o Space Biology:
This may include data and scientist exchanges in flight- and
ground-based research, biomedical research, flight hardware,
access to space flight, unique ground facilities, science
and technology application, and advanced life support.
o Space welding:
A possible NASA/Ukraine Joint Flight Demonstration of the
Ukrainian Universal Hand Tool (UHT) was discussed. If
approved, NASA will lease the UHT from the Paton Institute,
Kiev, Ukraine. The institute is a world leader in space
welding technologies which could offer viable techniques for
assembly and repair of large space structures. A flight
demonstration project of the UHT could begin as early as
October 1994 with an estimated flight date on the Space
Shuttle planned for late 1997.
o Advanced concepts and technology:
This includes exploring possible collaborative areas in
advanced concepts and technology, especially in the areas of
electrophoresis, protein crystal growth, organic separation,
animal and plant productivity, environmental controls,
agricultural biotechnology, and electron beam processing of
metallic and semiconductor materials.
Clarke was the head of the U.S. Delegation and Valeriy G.
Komarov, Deputy Director General, NSAU, was the head of the
Ukrainian delegation.
-end-